State v. McGinnis

• Decision Date: 30 June 1976
• Docket Number: No. 57594,57594
• Citation: 243 N.W.2d 583
• Parties: STATE of Iowa, Appellee, v. John McGINNIS, Appellant.
• Court: Iowa Supreme Court

Page 583

243 N.W.2d 583

STATE of Iowa, Appellee, v. John McGINNIS, Appellant.

No. 57594.

Supreme Court of Iowa.

June 30, 1976.

William A. Shuminsky, Sioux City, for appellant.

Richard C. Turner, Atty. Gen., Michael W. Coriden and Raymond Sullins, Asst. Attys. Gen., Zigmund Chwirka, County Atty., and Maynard M. Mohn, Asst. County Atty., Sioux City, for appellee.

Heard before MOORE, C.J., and LeGRAND, REES, UHLENHOPP and HARRIS, JJ.

HARRIS, Justice.

Defendant received a deferred sentence under § 789A.1, The Code, after having entered a guilty plea to delivering a controlled substance in violation of § 204.401(1), The Code. He appeals from an order entered some ten months later revoking probation and sentencing him to 60 days in the county jail. We affirm the trial court.

The facts leading to the original charge are not in dispute and are not of importance to the questions presented in this appeal. On September 7, 1973, John McGinnis (defendant) entered a plea of guilty to a county attorney's information charging him with illegal delivery. An accommodation was found and defendant was 'placed on deferred sentence with two years probation to the Bureau of Adult Corrections.' On April 4, 1974 an application to revoke the deferred snetence was filed on the stated grounds defendant had made a 'threatening and obscene telephone call' in violation of § 714.37, The Code. On the same date, April 4, 1974, hearing on the application for revocation was set for April 30, 1974. Notice of the hearing was given to defendant and also to Attorney William A. Shuminsky who had been appointed to represent defendant on the original charge.

At the revocation hearing Shuminksy stated he had called defendant when he received the notice. Defendant had then advised Shuminksy he was going to seek representation by a public defender and, if unable to get such help, would be represented by other counsel.

An assistant county attorney who represented the State in the application called Shuminksy on April 29 concerning the hearing. This call prompted Shuminsky again to talk with defendant. Defendant advised Shuminsky that Daniel C. Galvin would appear for him as attorney in the matter. Shuminsky came to the hearing only in order to make sure defendant had representation; Shuminksy was not prepared on the case.

Galvin had been contacted by defendant on April 13 and was told by defendant of the general allegations against him. Defendant and Galvin were apparently acquainted socially. Defendant advised Galvin that Shuminsky would not representing him but rather that he thought he would attempt to obtain public defender assistance. Galvin thought the plan acceptable but told defendant to advise him if he were unable to secure counsel. Galvin stated his next contact with defendant was on the afternoon before the hearing, April 29, when defendant asked Galvin to appear in his behalf. Because of lack of time Galvin also appeared at the hearing unprepared.

I. Shuminsky and Galvin joined in asking for a continuance. Denial of this application is defendant's first assignment of error.

The trial court felt defendant had been negligent in failing to sooner procure a lawyer. Witnesses had traveled from out of town. It appears one came from Des Moines and another from Houston, Texas. In denying the application the trial court indicated having been called by the assistant county attorney the day before. The assistant county attorney had reported defendant would appear for the hearing and represent himself.' The court had advised the assistant county attorney defendant 'must have an attorney', and further indicated that such counsel had at all stages of the proceedings been available at public expense.

Rule 183(a), Rules of Civil Procedure, provides: 'A continuance may be allowed For any cause not growing out of the fault or negligence of the applicant, which satisfies the court that substantial justice will be more nearly obtained. * * * .' (Emphasis added.) Section 780.2, The Code, makes the rules of civil procedure applicable to continuances in criminal cases.

It is well settled that granting or refusing a motion for continuance is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court. The discretion is very broad. The trial court's ruling on a motion for continuance will be disturbed only where it appears the trial court has abused its discretion. State v. Miller, 229 N.W.2d 762, 771 (Iowa 1975); State v. Cowman, 212 N.W.2d 420, 423 (Iowa 1973) and authorities.

In Wycoff v. State, 226 N.W.2d 29 (Iowa 1975) we considered the effect of a late appointment of counsel in a probation revocation hearing. We cited Orcutt v. State, 173 N.W.2d 66 (Iowa 1969) where the assertion of lack of preparation time was extensively discussed.

Orcutt was a case which involved termination of a parent-child relationship. Original counsel became unable to continue representation. Substitute counsel was then appointed three days before trial. The new counsel was not able to discuss the case with the appellant (who was confined to the women's reformatory) until a few hours before the hearing. A continuance for lack of opportunity to prepare for the case was sought but overruled. In reversing we said: 'It is clear that a defendant in a criminal case who goes to trial has been denied effective assistance of counsel if counsel is not given adequate opportunity to prepare for trial.' 173 N.W.2d at 69.

In Orcutt we quoted from Scalf v. Bennett, 260 Iowa 393, 399, 147 N.W.2d 860, 864 (1967): "Effective' * * * means conscientious, meaningful representation wherein the accused is advised of his rights and honest, learned and able counsel is given a reasonable opportunity to perform the task assigned to him. (Authorities).' 173 N.W.2d at 69. See also State v. Kendall, 167 N.W.2d 909, 910 (Iowa 1969). In Orcutt we also quoted with approval from Stirling v. State, 38 Ariz. 120, 123, 297 P. 871, 872 (1931):

"His right to have counsel, and To have his counsel prepare his case for trial * * * is a substantial right, and To deny his counsel sufficient time in which to prepare his case is also the denial of a substantial right; and, under such circumstances, to have counsel appointed to represent him would be a meaningless formality and the granting of a barren right." (Emphasis in Orcutt.) 173 N.W.2d at 69--70.

The instant case bears little or no resemblance to Orcutt. This defendant's difficulty was entirely of his own making. He was apprised, not only by his notice, but by both counsel with whom he visited of the importance and necessity of being represented. We may assume defendant was aware of the seriousness of the hearing. Our comments made in 1893 remain appropriate:

'* * * The application * * * is, in effect, a showing by the attorney for (defendant) that he was employed only a few minutes before the trial, and could not, with the utmost diligence and tact, prepare for the trial of the case then called. It asked for a postponement to some other day in the term. There seem to have been other counsel for (defendant), who were for some reason no longer appearing. There is no showing whatever of the diligence of (defendant) in securing counsel, or why his former counsel did not further appear. The district court said, in ruling upon the motion, that, while the attorney making the application was acting in good faith, the defendants had not evidently 'been diligent, or they could have had counsel, and ought not to put off the employment of counsel until to-day.' The court specially found that the clients had been negligent, and refused the application. The ruling was right. It was the duty of the client, as well as the attorney, to be diligent.' Maloney v. Traverse, 87 Iowa 306, 309--310, 54 N.W. 155, 156 (1893). See United States v. Redwitz, 328 F.2d 395, 398 (6 Cir. 1954) (where accused knew of need for counsel for three weeks, failed to retain until preceding weekend); State v. Hathaway, 224 Iowa 478, 481, 276 N.W. 207, 209 (1937) ('* * * If there was failure to secure counsel prior to the time appellant did secure counsel, it was her fault and not that of someone else.'); 17 Am.Jur.2d, Continuance, § 28, p. 148; 17 C.J.S. Continuances §§ 22--23, pp. 394--395; 66 A.L.R.2d 267, § 11 at 291--293; 66 A.L.R.2d 298, § 4(b) at 307--309.

The trial court's action in denying the motion for continuance was no abuse of discretion. Neither did it rise to a deprivation of constitutional rights, in view of defendant's obvious negligence in timely seeking assistance of counsel. Counsel were given adequate time after hearing to research the law and to submit briefs. Defendant has not been hampered by any lack of assertion of legal rights. In addition defendant has never disputed the factual basis for the application.

Defendant's first assignment is without merit.

II. Defendant's second assignment is the claim the trial court failed to comply with the provisions of chapter 789A, The Code, relating to revocation of deferred sentences. There is no claim of lack of due process in the giving of notice. It is clear defendant had notice of the charge upon which the revocation hearing was grounded and on that basis the State believes trial court was right in refusing to dismiss the application.

Defendant's claim under this assignment is that the State failed to allege or prove any violation of the terms of his probation. On appeal he argues any unwritten conditions placed on his probation would be void, citing People v. George, 318 Mich. 329, 28 N.W.2d 86 (1947). The claim proceeds from the absence of showing defendant had notice when he was placed on probation that he should not violate the law. We believe it is a fundamental condition of any probation, whether or not it is expressed in probation instructions, that the probationer shall not violate the law.

The general principles governing revocation proceedings are well settled and not seriously disputed. They were stated in a...